I am very confused

[cornerofmadness]

So after work today I went to the library in Gallipolis (not my usual one). I wanted to return two of my books and maybe get another one or two for that big raffle they have with a half dozen gift baskets each over 100$. So I spot a Critical Role graphic novel (who knew those existed) but its vol 3. So I want volume 1. I take two steps towards their paltry GN offerings but the call number caught my attention. NF 741. WTF? Non-fiction?!? I thought okay maybe it's a book about the making of Critical Role.

Nope. Puzzled, I go to the 740s in non-fiction and there is a boat load of graphic novels....WHY?!? How the fuck is Batman non-fiction? I'm pretty sure he's not real. I find a half dozen I want to read (why not, I get a raffle entry for every book I read) and I go to the librarian at the front desk and I can't help myself. I ask, why are the comic books in non-fiction. She gives me the deer in the headlights look and says we put them in how they come marked....okay that makes no sense. I tap the dragon and the elves on the cover and said this is not non-fiction. I have been coming here for years and would never have thought to look in the 740s for comic books. 'well now you know.'

Eye roll. the other thing I'm confused by is my sugar. It was well over 300 this morning. I could barely drive to work I thought maybe it was that plant milk. It does have more sugar than I want but it shouldn't have made it crazy. I took my normal insulin. By the time I was at the library at 430 my sugar crashed out and I could barely drive home for the opposite reason.

My anticipated package from etsy still wasn't here. pout.

Comments

[sanguinity]

The Dewey Decimal system didn't begin life as an non-fiction system, but as an everything system, encompassing every book in the library. Since those early days, every once in a while something gets popular enough that librarians decide to pull stuff that began as a Dewey subclass out into its own stand-alone section -- an early one of those was popular fiction, which is why people tend to shorthand the Dewey area as non-fiction, even though it isn't really and never was.

So yeah, collections of syndicated comic strips from the newspapers have been in the 740s my whole life, long before any library ever had a Graphic Novels section. And if you go looking, you'll probably find a ton of literature in the 800s, too -- English lit, classics, poetry, etc.

[cornerofmadness]

Oddly I was a library assistant at my university library and I don't remember fiction in nonfiction before this. I'm much more used to the numerical system being non and just letters being fiction. This is literally the first time ever running into graphic novels in the 740s

However YES to the literary books being in the 800s. That I've seen everywhere now that I think about it and I think I had that in my mind that these are literary reviews of these books (since they're often accompanied by critical reviews)

[shanachie_quill]

I came here to say this, but you've said it much more eloquently so thanks. It was one of the big surprises of my internship last semester. But at least it allows me to send patrons in the right direction.

[cornerofmadness]

I'm just going to assume my library never did this when I worked there. Another librarian friend of mine is as stunned as I am so I guess hers doesn't do it either.

still doesn't explain how they pick which ones go into non fiction and which ones don't

[shanachie_quill]

I think it's more recent? Or something. I don't remember my library having graphic novels when I was growing up. My public library shelves them seperate. And of the three schools I did my internship in, 2 shelve them seperate and one shelves them in Non-Fiction.

I have no idea how they choose... I've only seen it all or nothing.

[cornerofmadness]

Fair point. Graphic novels didn't really exist whenI was young and considered unworthy for so long. I think they started binding them up in the mid 80s early 90s. Elfquest was the first I remember and The Crow...oddly both being indie

[shanachie_quill]

I just grew up in a small town with a small library so I don't really remember seeing any. I got my comic books (not so many graphic novels) from a local shop.

[cornerofmadness]

Definitely not in mine. I got the graphic novels at Walden books

[shanachie_quill]

Our nearest mall was 45 minutes and we had no bookstore in town. But I feel you.

[cornerofmadness]

yeah mine wasn't much closer then or now

[shanachie_quill]

I will say at least we have a mall in town, but I rarely go there. And after my last trip, I'll probably just go to JC Penny and that's it.

[cornerofmadness]

Oddly enough the one in Huntington WV is a really good mall still. And very well used. That said I mostly hit macy's home goods sbarros and booksamillion and ignore the rest

[shanachie_quill]

I used to enjoy Hot Topic, but they've changed. I can't really think of anywhere in our mall that I'd totally want to shop at. The JCPenny is nice and being updated. But I'm more an online shopper anyway.

[cornerofmadness]

my issue with Hot Topics was they decided 'anime was for kids' and even my skinny anime club girls couldn't fit in their damn shirts.

I dislike online shopping for clothes

[shanachie_quill]

I'm just not finding my fandoms anymore. And honestly the only clothing I ever bought from them was t-shirt.

I mean it's not my favorite, but I rarely find things in stores that a)I like and b) fit. Although I did find three dresses yesterday (I bought 4, but hated the one).

[cornerofmadness]

I hear you. It's been a while since I've been blown away by an anime. I wouldn't mind an The Owl House shirt though

I have good luck with Macy's plus sizes. If I wait for whatever is on the sales racks it's as cheap as walmart. that said while their winter stuff is nice their summer stuff hasn't been great in a few years. I stay with Roaman's online but I hate hate hate their shipping fees both ways if you have to return it

[shanachie_quill]

Everyone keeps telling me to watch anime, but I've never found one I really want to watch.

Good to know. I will keep that in mind. I got some pretty dresses at Walmart the other day, which surprised me, but they were good.

I do need to return the one because the eyelet was out of control.

[cornerofmadness]

May I make a suggestion as someone who has watched/collected anime/manga since the 70s? Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood for the anime, vs the 2003 version). Asked evil little dog. This one a) has an amazing storyline from start to finish (unlike so many that start strong then flag) well told and makes sense b) engaging characters c) still my #1 out of 40 + years of collecting

on sizing at Macy's the biggest I've seen is a 26. I find the 24's true to size or a touch big so for me they work

ugh to out of control eyelet

[shanachie_quill]

I will try it! It looks like it's on Hulu so I'll add it to the list.

Ah okay. I'll have to keep that in mind. Hopefully I'm gonna start losing weight.

So much ugh! And the dress was like a peachy pink anyway so not my favorite.

[cornerofmadness]

Hopefully you'll like FMA

You and me both on the losing weight

ew yeah no to that color. I'd look naked

[shanachie_quill]

Okay it's added to the list.

Ugh yes, but I don't seem to be going anywhere (but up). It'll be an interesting conversation with the dietitian on Tuesday.

It was darker than that? But yeah it was horrible.

[cornerofmadness]

Hope you like it if you get a chance to see it

good luck with the dietician

[shanachie_quill]

Thanks. I'll be honest it'll probably take me a bit to get to it.

Yeah... *sighs* she wants me to go to a 1500 calorie diet. And I'm just not... ready for that.

[cornerofmadness]

Understandable.

Yeah that's rough, not as bad as it seems. I've been on 800 calories a couple times (no results, which should tell them something bad is going on but...)

[shanachie_quill]

*nods*

I'm working on just being more watchful of my diet first. I've tried something similar before and it didn't happen.

[cornerofmadness]

Yeah understandable. that's a decent plan

[shanachie_quill]

It is. I haven't been that good, but hopefully once works starts again and I'm back on an actual schedule it'll be easier and better.

[cornerofmadness]

good luck

[shanachie_quill]

Well, I lost like 2.5 pounds this week, but it was stress.

[cornerofmadness]

that's no good

[shanachie_quill]

It's not, but it's been better.

[spikedluv]

Your blood sugar is a crazy thing! I hope you're feeling better today.

[cornerofmadness]

It was still being a jerk today, stupid sugar

[aaronlisa]

On the plus side at least you found where the graphic novels actually live, even if it doesn't make sense.

I am sorry about your sugar levels.

[cornerofmadness]

Indeed I did...only they're in two places so in spite of the above explanation in the comments I'm still confused.

thanks

[harpers_child]

To add to the confusion, there is a non-fiction book about the making of Critical Role.

[cornerofmadness]

That's what I thought I had grabbed at first